Machine for cutting butter and the like



- Nov. 10, 192 5- R. F. STEWART CHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER AND THE LIKE 4Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 4, 1924 R. F'. STEWART MACHINE FOR CUTTINGBUTTER AND THE\LIKE Nov. 10, 1925.

v Filed Nov. 4, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AITORN 5 -.-Nov. 10,1 5. 4

R. F. STEWART MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER AND THE LIKE Filed Nov 4, 19244 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Nov. 10, 1925. 1,560,619

R. F. STEWART IACHINB FOR CUTTING BUTTER AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 4, 19244 Sheets-Shoot 4- Patented Nov. 10, 1925. v

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca 0 Riemann r. STEWART, or BRIARCLIFF MANOR,NEW YORK. r

MACHINE FOR CUTTING BUTTER AND THE LIKE.

Application filed November 4, 1924. Serial No.i747,834 i To all whom itmay concern.

Be it known that I, RICHARD F. STEWART,

a citizen of the United States, residing at.

.Briarcliff Manor, in the State of New York, have inventedcertain newand useful Improvements in Machines for Cutting Butter and the like, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part 7 hereof.

This invention relates to a machine of simple construction for cuttingbutter and similar material, usually into blocks of predetermined weightor size. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such ,7

sures homogeneous packing," discharges it u in such compacted conditionpast devices which automatically cut it into slabs of desired length,width or thickness onto a conveyor where its travel is continuedautomatically in substantially directjline from the line of dischargeand insures the con-'- tinuous and uninterrupted deposit, at intervals,of slabs thus cut. The material itself is employed for controlling thedevices initiating periodically operation of the conveyor and operationof the cutter.

These and other objects of the invention as indicated generallyhereinbefore will ap pear more particularly in connection with thedescription of the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein: Figure 1 is a view in pla'nof a machine for cutting butter, inaccordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is' a view in side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is a detailedview in plan and ona somewhat larger scale showing particularly thedevices for feeding the butter of the cover of'the hopper being rem dfor clearness.

from the hopper and compacting it, a part i Figure 4 is a detailed viewparty in side elevation and partly in vertical section of so much of themachine as is illustrated-in -Figure 3 and showingparticularlytherelation of the delivery chute to the conveyor. Figure 5is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section ofthe-partsshown in Figure 4 but illustrating, in addition,

the operating mechanism for the conveyor and the clutch control means.

Figure 6 is a detailed view inside elevation illustrating the clutchcontrol means.

Figure 7 is, a view partly in side elevation and partly in sectionshowing particularly the operating means for the cutter.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary :detailed view showing the means for raisingand lowering the conveyor bars.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, detailed view in side elevation showingspringflmeans, for kicking the parts ofi'dead center in certainpositions. I

. aFigu-re l Ois-ah enlarged detail. view in planofthe .poweractuatingmeans, I 1

1. While, 7 as the description proceeds, it

will be'evident to one skilled in the art that mechanical .changes maybe made and equivalents substituted in some instances,

The machine comprises in its essential partsja'table a supported bylegs'a', movable interconnected slats b carried thereon and adapted toreceive and convey prints I of butter, a hopper c in which butter isplaced in bulk, a power 'operatedrevolving paddle 03 within the hopperto force the but- I ter through'a feed chute '0 wherein it is compacteduniformly and presented to suitable cutting devices indicated generallyat e for deposit of the cut prints onto the slats b by which such printsare conveyed with itself which is forced against a latch bar f suitablyinterconnected with the operatin mechanism and itself adapted to berocked automatically out of the path of the print after operation of thedevices has been initiated.

- The feed of the butter from the hopper 7 ,is brought aboutcontinuously by the propelling' paddle cl which is keyed on a verticalshaft d driven through a chain and sprocket d from a power shaft 9geared to a primemover'. g, such as an electric motor. The press ofbutter is constantly directed to wards the chute cand compacted thereinmore effectively by a novel oscillating presser arm 0 pivoted at c atone. side of the hopper 7 but oscillated by direct engagement therewithof the reversely curved side of the paddle d. The arm 0 is formed as abell crank lever having a short arm c which is thrown. into the path ofthe o nwardly sweeping paddled immediately after the long arm has beenforced into the mouth of the chute 0 asindicated in dotted linesinFigure 3. In the arm 0 is pivoted a gate valve 0 which liessubstantially in prolongation of the sidewall of the chute 0 when thearm 0 is withdrawn from its mouth but moves inwardly along the wall ofthe chute when the. arm 0 ispressed towards, its mouth, the two cooperating at all times to confine and direct the onward movement of, thebutter-into the chutean-d prevent, its deflection around the curved,wall of the hopper. The paddle (Z; by" the construction described servesthe dual functionof engaging the, butter directly and forcing itonwardly through a limited angle and later forcing the arm 0 behind thebutter in the chute to more effectively compact the butter and dischargeit as will be explained. The chute 0 may be provided with a false wallplate 0 the clearance of which may be adjusted by set screwsclpreferably disposed nearthe mouth of'the chute thereby accentuatingthe coin pression ofthe butter and insuring its discharge in homogeneouscompactness. I

Immediately at the discharge end of the chute '0 may be mounted onscrews 0 and 0 a series of horizontal and vertical spaced .wires- (notillustrated) forming a patch work to cut the butter into rectangularslabs, if desired, before'it is cutinto predetermined length. Spacedbeyond the mouth of the chute 0 but in such relation to receive thebutter'alre the slats 7) which are adapted to have a-horizontal'reciprocating and undulatin movement aswill be described later to conveythe butter along the table. Between the end of the chute and these slatsand at opposite sides of the butter prints vertical slide pieces 6 aresecured and these have slots 6 in which reciprooates vertically aU-frame 6 carrying a cross wire 6 which is forced down through thebutter when the frame ispulled downwardly to cut the butter into printsof predetermined length. As shown most clearly in Figures 5 and 7 one ofthe side bars of the frame 6 has pivoted thereto a link e which in turnis pivoted to a long arm 6 adapted to rock on a pivot 0 carried bythetable. This linkage serves to reciprocate the'cutter in a mannerwhich will be described later. The butter before being cut is extrudedfrom the chute c" to a point where it, engages the clutch bar 7 andbycontinued pressureof the feeding devices moves that bar an appreciabledistance sufficient to initiate operation of the cutting and feedingmechanism.

The bar f, as shown in Figure 3, is pivoted through side rails ftosliding bars f which support it. The slides f carry at their rear endspins f which engage slotted crank arms it pivoted to pull rode it for apurpose to be described. lVhen the butter engages the clutch bar 7 andmoves it bodily towards the left as viewed 1n l lgures 4t and 5, it willbe evident that the slide rods f are also forced to the left withtheirpins f thereby rocking the crank arms h and pulling the pull rodsh tothe right, This linkage'controls the power clutch, as will ap pearlater.

I In order to permit the cut print to be carried to the left by theconveyor slats b after initiation of operation has been brought about bypressure of the butter on the barf itis evident that'this bar f'must beswung upwardly to clear the print, as 3 shown in Figure 5. Thisupwardmovement of the bar may be brought about by lifting arms 2', the ends ofwhich rest under the side rails f supporting 'the'bar f and the lowerends of which are supported on the same pivot c with the rod Upwardswinging movement of the lifting'rods i is effected by cams in a mannerto bedescribed.

The conveying slats b are disposed loosely within a longitudinal openingin the table wand are spaced by means of a fixed slat a? lyingtherebetween. The slats b are interconnected to move as a unit by across bracket indicated in dotted lines at b in I Figure '3. This 1bracket carries a downwardly depending frame 6 of the peculiarconfiguration shown in Figure 5, which frame is engaged by a revolvingcrank arm in a manner to be described in order'to effect of the slatswith the prints is better assured I longitudinal reciprocations of theconveying slats with the prints thereon. Engagement by cleats on theirupper surfacesat the under the slats to lift them periodically, as

will be described later.

There now remains to be described the power devices by means of whichthe various elements described are operated following initiation of themovement by engagement of the butter with the clutch bar f. The powershaft 9 is geared to a lay shaft 9 which has splined thereon a slidingclutch dog g adapted to be engaged periodically with a co-operatingclutch element 9 which in turn is geared to a power shaft g journaledtransversely under the table a and carrying the various powerapplication means. The, sliding dog g is engaged operatively by apivoted arm 9 (Figure 5 which under the influence of a "spring g7 tendsto throw the clutch elements 9 into engagement with the clutch element 9When the butter is forced against the clutch bar 7, however, so as tomove it bodily to the leftthe rod h is pulled to the right as viewed inFigure 5 carrying with it a 'detent 7&2 which normally checks movementof the clutch lever 'g and restrains it against movement under theinfluence of the spring 9 l/Vhen the bar h is moved in the mannerdescribed the clutch element g? is thrown into engagement with thecomplementary section 9 the two having intereng'aging teeth 9 whichfinally mesh under the influence of the somwhatweak spring g, Couplingof the clutchlelem'ents at once causes rotation of the cross shaft 9through intermeshing gears 9 On the cross shaft 9 are mounted variousdriving means for the parts hereinbefore described. Figure 5 shows'in'side elevation a "cam carried on this shaft and adapted to engageperiodically' a plate h secured at the endof the clutch control bar h,the action ofthe cam rotating in'a counterclockwise direction, asindicated'in Figure 6, to wipe the plate h and pull the bar h tothe leftagainst the action-ofthe spring gg thereby disengaging the clutchelements 9 9*. The means for holding T the clutch elements disengage-dagainst the action of the-springtg -"inolude a'crank arin Z keyed on theshaft gland carryinga pin Z which seats ata predetermined timeion ahorizontal plane 'flange' k carried with the bar it. Since the spring 9is rather light the engagementof the pin Z on the flat flange'h serveseffectivelyto restrain the bar h against movement until some movingforceis applied thereto aswhen another print is 'pressedagainst theclutch bar 7 in the manner before described.

I the plate k On the shaft g istkeyeda' cam m which revolvesin propertiming-to engage op'era.'-

tively and slide towards the left a control bar m/to which arepivoted'the bell 'crank levers'b hereinbefore described. The cam mby-its operation forces the bar m towards the left swinging the upperends of the crank arms 6 upwardly to lift the conveying slats b. Whenthe cam m is moved out of opera-.- tive engagement with the bar-mtheweight of th parts serves to swing the-crank arms 6 in acontrarydirection'and permit the slats btto dro to their'normal level.,

On the revo ving arm Z may be carried in addition to the pin- Z, butatthe opposite side of the arm, another pin Z which engages the wholebracket li periodically, first at one side and then at theother'to'slide the slats b first towards the left and then towards theright therebyconveying a print of but: ter for a distance towards theleft andreturning toreceive the next print --of butter. Th timing is'soregulated, of course, that the slats bare in elevated position under theinfluence ofthe crank arms 6* while the print is being conveyed towardsthe leftand are permitted 'to drop below the level of the table and ofthe "spacingbaraa while the slats themselves are being returnedtowardsthe right into position print. a t:

On the same cross shaftvg is secured another cam 1, on the surface ofwhichrests for receiving another directly the operatingbar. e forthecutter the clutchbar f is elevated periodically out of the path of theprint This bar f, with the lifter bar i,'will drop byggravity when thepin 91, rides'off'thefshoe ij v Figure 9 shows a kick-off arrangementwhereby the cam 70 in Figure 6; is prevented from remaining incontact-with theplate h a relationwhich obviously would prevent furthermovement of the clutchoperating bar h.- The device in Figure 9 consistsmerely of a cam 0 onthe end of the shaft 9 which is spring-pressed underthe ins fluence of a pivoted bar ofandspring 0 the pressure of thespring being effective at about the time the cam 70 is at its highipointwith respect to'the plate k The action is to give the shaft 951afinalquick kick sufficient to throw-the cam In -downwardly off Theoperation of the machine has been indicated somewhat in connection with:the detailed description of the various parts but the timing will bebetter understood by a brief rsum thereof. The butter emerging from themouth of the chute-'0 engages the clutch bar f and by its pressure movesthe clutch bar towards the left. This movement, is translated to thecontrol bar it which is retracted permitting the spring 9 to throw inthe clutch element g Rotation of the shaft g thereupon commencesinstantly. The pin a iscarried immediately into engagement with the hook6 thereby drawing the cutterbar 6 with its wire downwardly to cutaprint. As soon as the print is cut the bars 2' and e are lifted toraise the clutch bar f out of the path of the print and to raise thecutter frame 6 into position for another operation. At about that timethe cam m raises the arms 64 to lift the slatsb and the pin Z on the armZ engages the bracket 6 and draws the slats towards the lefttherebyconveying the print. After the slats have made theirpredetermined travel the cam m releases the bar m so that the slats maydrop freely and the pin Z enhowever, while an additional mass of butteris being ejected from the chute. This dwell is. obtained bydisconnecting the clutch elements g g; This is done by the cam is whichengages the plate k and draws the bar it? against the clutch handle y soasto throw the clutch. The parts are held in this relation by engagementof the pin Z withthe flange h. The cam k is connected out of engagementwith the plate h by the spring-pressed cam 0 shown in Figure 9. Whenithebutter has emerged to a suiiicient extent tjov again press against theclutch bar 7 the samesequence of operations is: repeated.

As pointed out before changes in details of design may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and equivalent mechanicalelements may be substituted for those described.

What I claim is: t

1. In a. machine for cutting material of thenature. described, a hopperto receive the material: in bulk and having a discharge chute in. itsside wall, and feeding mechanism for discharging the material from thehopper, comprising a revolving'paddle and an oscillating arm operated'bythe paddle movable into the mouth: of the chute.

2'. In asmachine for cutting material of the nature described, a hopperto receive the material. in: bulk,:'a discharge chute leading from thehopper, an arm adaptedto'move into the mouth of the chute and arevolving paddle to oscillate the arm into and away from the mouth ofthe chute.

3. V In a machine of the character described, a hopper having adischarge chute, a bell crank lever pivoted within the hopper and havingone arm movable into the mouth of the chute, a revolving paddle in thehopper to move said arm into the mouth of the chute and a second arm ofthe bell crank lever engageable by the paddle to move said first namedarm away from the mouth of the chute. 7

4. In a machine of the character described, a hopper having a dischargechute, a bell crank lever pivoted within the hopper and having one armmovableinto the mouth of the chute, a revolving paddle in the hopper tomove said arm into the mouth of the chute and a second arm of the bellcrank lever engageable by the paddle to move said first named arm awayfrom the mouth of the chute, and a gate member pivotally carried by thefirst named arm at one'side of the mouth of the chute to cooperate withsaid arm and with the wall'of the chute to direct the material into thechute.

5. In a machine of the" character described, a circular hopper toreceive the bulk of material and having a discharge chute, a reverselycurved paddle mounted in the hopper and engaging the walls snugly, powermeans to revolve the paddle, a curved arm pivoted at one side of thehopper and having its free end 'engageable by the curved side of thepaddle while the arm is forced by the paddle into the mouth of thedischarge chute.

6. In a machine of the character described, devices for discharging,cutting and conveying material in a straight line, including a dischargechute, 'a vertically reciprocating-cutter mounted in proximity to thechute, conveyor means onto which the material is discharged for cuttingand means engaged by the discharged material to initiate operation ofthe cutting and conveying devices.

7. In a machine of the character de= scribed, a discharge chute,longitudinally reciprocable conveyor slats on which the material isdischarged, vertically reciprocable cutting means mounted in proximityto the discharge chute to cut the material inpredetermined lengths, andmeans in the path of the material movable by the pressure thereof toinitiate operation sequentially of the cutting devices and the conveyorslats.

8. In a machine of the character described, a discharge chute verticallyreciprocable cutting means in proximity to the discharge chute,conveying means onto which the material is discharged, a bar in the lineY to move said bar out of the path of the material and a clutch for thepower means controlled by movement of said bar to initiate operationsequentially of all of said devices.

9. In a machine for cutting material of the character described, a powershaft, a'

driven shaft, a clutch to connect said shafts, a bar disposed in thepath of the material 10 and adapted to be moved by the pressure thereofand linkage operatively interconnecting said bar and said clutch tocontrol the movements thereof, cutting devices for the material,conveyor devices for the material cut, and means carried by the secondnamed shaft to operate said cutting and conveying means when the clutchis thrown. This specification signed this 1st day of November A. D.1924.

RICHARD F.- STEWART.

